S&P warns cuts loom for G20 nations on health costs

(Reuters) - Ratings agency Standard & Poor's warned it may downgrade "a number of highly rated" Group of 20 countries from 2015 if their governments fail to enact reforms to curb rising healthcare spending and other costs related to ageing populations.

Calderon Urges G-20 to Do More to Defuse European ‘Time Bomb’

Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon urged the Group of 20 nations to gather more funds to prevent the European debt crisis from destroying the euro and undermining stability elsewhere in the world.

Europe on brink of recession, unemployment above 10%

BRUSSELS: Since the start of the year, one phrase has tripped off the lips of European leaders more than any other: "jobs and growth". After two years of debt crisis and budget austerity, there is a strong desire to shift the narrative on.

Merkel says 'big rethink needed'

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has told the World Economic Forum that a "big rethink" is needed in the eurozone within the global economy.

The SECRET FACEBOOK OF POWER used by global premiers at G20

"It wasn't secret, we just didn't need to tell anyone about it" said Sid Heaslip, Programme manager at Opentext discussing the TOP SECRET FACEBOOK OF POWER that his company made for the G20 summit in 2010, exclusively for the leaders of the world's most powerful nations to network with.

Momentum to drain from world economy in 2012: poll

LONDON (Reuters) - The world economy will lose momentum in 2012 but it will keep moving in the right direction, according to Reuters polls of around 600 economists who said crisis-hit Europe would drag on global growth.

G-20 Looks to Shore Up Sovereign Financing After Mexico Meeting

Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The G-20 agreed on the need to do more to support indebted nations, Mexico’s Deputy Finance Minister Gerardo Rodriguez said.

Greece, creditors close in on debt cut deal

(Reuters) - Greece was closing in on an initial deal with private bond holders on Friday that would prevent it from tumbling into a chaotic default but lose investors up to 70 percent of the loans they have given to Athens.

UK No 1 when it comes to 'cyberpower' - analyst group

The United Kingdom leads other G20 countries in its ability to withstand cyberattacks and develop strong digital economies, according to new research.

IMF seeks $600 bln in new funds, G20 to discuss

WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY: The IMF is seeking to more than double its war chest by raising $600 billion in new resources to help countries deal with the fallout of the euro zone debt crisis, but the plan faces roadblocks from the United States and other countries.

Analysis: Credit downgrades put onus on Germany

BRUSSELS – One of the defining images of Europe's two-year-old debt crisis is that of the leaders of France and Germany, side by side, presenting their latest strategy for the continent.

Feisty Sarkozy shrugs off French credit downgrade

MADRID (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy bluntly declared Monday that a harsh downgrade by Standard & Poor's of France's formerly top-rung debt rating "changes nothing" for the eurozone's No. 2 economy.

Fed officials say not time to buy bonds now

(Reuters) - Two top Federal Reserve officials, including a policy centrist, said on Friday the central bank should hold off buying more bonds to boost growth given a strengthening in the economy.

Greece holds new talks on bond swap

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Greek government will hold a second day of talks Friday with representatives of private bondholders on a crucial debt relief deal, without which it could suffer a catastrophic bankruptcy that would send shockwaves through the global economy.

Italy decrees attack on monopolies and vested interests

Italy's new government is planning a broad, swift attack on the vested interests in Italian society, according to a junior minister.

Wall Street Bonuses May Reach Lowest Level in 3 Years

Wall Street banks will announce their annual compensation and bonuses starting this month, and forecasts are generally expecting cutbacks across the board though the rewards will still be rich at least by non-1 percenter standards.

Draghi May Copy Bernanke on Path to Low Rates

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi may act more like Ben S. Bernanke than Jean-Claude Trichet in 2012.

Germany Resists Europe's Pleas to Spend More

FRANKFURT — Spain, Italy and Greece are sharply cutting public spending because they have no choice. But Germany is still healthy enough that it could do its troubled trading partners a favor and focus more on promoting demand and less on cutting debt.Could, but almost certainly will not.

Wall Street is bracing for a dismal 4th quarter

For most Wall Street bankers, 2011 was a year they would rather forget. Investors will soon find out just how bad that year was for the country's biggest financial institutions.

Geithner to discuss Iran in China, Japan visit

(Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will travel to China and Japan next week to discuss U.S. sanctions on Iran and the state of the global economy with top government officials, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday.

Hungary under pressure to change course

(Reuters) - Pressure grew on Hungary to change its policies to satisfy international lenders on Tuesday after bond yields jumped above 10 percent and the European Commission told the government to safeguard the central bank's independence.

On Wall Street, a Renewed Optimism for Deals

Before Europe’s debt crisis flared anew last summer, rattling markets and choking off a revival in mergers and acquisitions, huge corporate cash piles and cheap debt had fostered hopes that deal-making would recover strongly last year.

German, French stocks up in light trading

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Global stock markets opened a risk-filled new year still smarting from a rough 2011, as many exchanges remained closed. German and French stocks rose in light volumes as a a reading of manufacturing activity in Europe improved.

Crisis talk, austerity calls mark euro anniversary

BERLIN (Reuters) - Policymakers marked the 10th anniversary on Sunday of the introduction of euro notes and coins by urging governments in the currency bloc to save and consolidate to overcome their debt crisis.